The rise of mobile creates a massive opportunity for apps and services that help individuals make better decisions and achieve their goals, at least in theory. But do they work? WBUR reports on a bit of encouraging evidence in the realm of smoking and text messaging:

Dr. Robyn Whittaker of the University of Auckland in New Zealand compiled the review of five studies involving over 9,000 people trying to quit smoking. The smokers received texts up to several times a day containing either motivational messages or quitting advice. In one study, smokers also received links to short video clips following someone’s successful attempt to quit smoking. Smokers in the control groups received text messages less frequently or were given information online or support over the phone.

Overall, Whittaker and colleagues estimated that mobile phone messages increased the chance of quitting in at least six months — from 4 to 5 percent in control groups to between 6 and 10 percent in the texting groups.

This is great news in part because of how limited text messages are as opposed to smartphone apps. There are simply many more ways to interact with users via the latter, which means many different ways to influence behavior.

I’ve written about this trend of motivational mobile apps—which I call the good behavior layer—multiple times, and there are plenty of companies actively engaged in it. GymPact and RunKeeper are partnering to help users hit fitness goals, ImpulseSave (now a TechStars grad) is encouraging users to make better financial decisions, and companies like Ginger.io and Reify Health are pioneering data collection and interventions in the health space.

If text messages can help us quit smoking, just imagine what cleverly designed mobile apps might be able to help us do. As we all strive to hit our goals, that extra burst might soon be found in our pockets.